LIHU‘E — Two bags of rice, two gallons of cooking oil, two big packages of toilet tissue made up part of Max Klutke’s winning shopping list Saturday.
His $484.56 total edged out David Mona’s $428.51 at the Lihu‘e Big Save.
The goal for both shoppers was to reach as close to $500, including taxes, within three minutes to earn an additional $250 gift card from Big Save.
That prize was the Rubbah Slippah award presented at the annual Visitor Industry Charity Walk hosted by the Hawai‘i Hotel and Lodging Association, Kaua‘i Chapter, earlier in the year. The award, presented to Klutke and Mona, was for the second highest amount raised by an individual.
Jeanette Riding, a fundraising veteran, was the top fundraiser at the walk, earning a $1,000 shopping package from the Kukui‘ula Shopping Village for her efforts.
The Saturday shopping spree at the Lihu‘e Big Save determined second and third place between Klutke and Mona.
A last-minute twist was added Saturday morning when the shoppers were limited to just two of a brand. That meant if you wanted four bags of rice, shoppers had to pick two bags of one brand and two bags of another brand. Shoppers were allowed five minutes to “scout” the store before being released for the spree.
“Did you see his shirt?” asked Shawn August, Klutke’s “menehune.” “It has the word ‘Run’ across the front. He’s serious.”
The task of the menehune was to help the shopper with things like running items back to the registers and tallying. They could not take items off the shelf. Only shoppers were allowed to remove the items.
A pressure cooker popped onto the register at the signal and both shoppers were swallowed up by the rows that were emptied of customers and staff for the three-minute spree.
“Sugar,” Klutke said, panting from the effort after placing two packages of toilet tissue on the register.
When the dust settled, Klutke and August were exhausted, but had enough energy to beam a smile after discovering they were closer to the $500 mark.
Klutke and Mona were both repeat spree shoppers after earning the experience at the 2009 charity walk. Following the run, Klutke said he had more items last year.
“You think your store is too small,” Klutke told Gary Furugen of Big Save. “Try running it. It’s big!”
• Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@kauaipubco.com.
